National Republican., 1887-11-19
RICHARD MANSFIELD.
Some Interestipg Facts Concerning the
Popular Actor.

Popular Actor.
Richard Mansfield, the author actor, was
born In London about thirty years,ago, and
bic great artistic gifts came to him by the
natural laws Of heredity, for his mother,
Nine. Erminia Rudersdorff, was one OF the
rarest lyric srtIsts Of her timo. With all
her intultive lift and rare theoretical knowl
edge, Nine. Rudersdorir seems not to have
estimated at their true valuation the rare
artistic gifts sbe had beaueathed to her son,
and the great advantages OF the develop
ment OF the artist that was In him by such
n teacher as his mother was substantially
denied him, for she did not design that he
should follow the stage as profession. He
was In his Goth year when Nine. Rudersdorff
decided that he should enter upon COM
mercial career, and secured him position
In the great dry goods house OF Jordan &
Marsh In Boston
There young Mansfield, with complacent
sangfroid, started out as a drummer" EE
He made hosts Of friends, pleased his
employers, but was not himself satisfied.
He yearDed TO get back to England and the
artistic life OF the old world. Finally, In
about year after this business episode, he
announced his determination Of going TO
England to become an artist, and away he
went without, II Is to be feared the maternal
benediction. 30, youth OF 81, he found
himself in London almost penniless and
provided only with portfolio Of sketches
ase mpps %n II. neIo Ta' soas to sS
his arm pursuing the vain quest Of market
ing his clever but unappreciated pictures.
Soon bis money gave out, but being very
popular society favorite be kept up brave
heart and eked out subsistence upon the
mesger fare which the offerings OF after
afforded. II was during this time
that bis clever mimlcry first came to be
recognized In London, and, like Grossmith,
young Mansfield soon became a parlor
celebrity as an entertainer. But oil this did
not help bis pocket, and one day there err,
his last s n Shilling. Fhls % Incident, a ' as the
young actor relates 1t, Ia worthy OF record.
He was on his way home to his lodgings
towards night when he met boon com
panion, a son of prominent English
to large dinner party. "Come, Dick, let
us have champagne cocktail" exclaimed
young D-.as they met. This situation
exchanged, and the cocktail slipped, the
young man, feeling valnly In his pockets,
noDchalantly said, "By George, Dick, I've
left my money In my other clothes. You
settle this will you2'
And he marched on to his dinner, bliss
fully unconscious of the mournful eyes that
were gazing after him, while Mansfield paid
down his last shilling to whet the already
fdNtuOub dppeblJe WHICH was 10 KNOW no
greeting that night, such as awaited his
eminent friend. But 1t had not much
longer to wait; the era OF sandwiches and
ice cream and deranged digestion was
nearly at an end, for professional friend,
who had heard his limitations in the draw
the German, Reeds, and he was regularly
engaged at o good salary to appear with
Corney Grain. On the first night, worn
out by exhaustion and frenzied with the ex-
citement Of his new position, which meant
either career or abject failure, he tainted
made success and got what was more val.
uable-hls name before the press and public
in q way that attracted the attention Of the
London managers.
He played Brigard in "Frou Frou," and
shortly atterward emerged in a singing role
"Le Boulsngere Des Ecus." Then shortly
afterward came the opening Of the Gilbert
and Sullivan regime, aud the young artist
stcured the coveted opportunity Of playing
the Admiral in "H. M. 8. Pinafore" In the
English provinces, and for the next three
seasons. under engagement to D'0yley
Carte, he created successfully the leading
comedy parts of the Gilbert and Sullivan
operas. Then, five years ago, Sill under
Mr.. Carte's wing, he came to New York,
unheralded and unknown. "Les Manteaux
NoIrs' was brought out at the Standard
DIomez, the miller.
Then came "Trip Van winkle" at the
same house. The part Of Nick Vedder had
intrinsically, nothing in it, but Mansfield
worked 1t up in his little apartment or
Broadway opposite the theater, and wher
his turn came on the eventful first night ht
again captured whatever success the even
ing afforded In his we'll remembered dialect
song, "Vedder's Heirloom.n
Then came "Iolanthe," with Mr.. Mans
GalA sl,a - h..
fancied, and which, fortunately, he soon
parted company with; for after few week.
In this character on the road he was offered
an engagement by Mr.. A. NJ. Palmer IN hi:
regular stock company of the Union Squar,
pheater , and cast IN mi minor part ia , "a
sketch well remembers the young actor,
dependency over this part. 81 can dc
nothing with IL. There is nothing, abso
lutely nothing, In itp'
One day, less than a week before the
opening night OF "a Parisian Romance
Mansfield again met the writer on UnoI
Square. He was almost fierce With sup
pressed excitement. "Haye you heard The
newsf" he exclaimed. "Stoddart ha;
thrown up Baron Chevrial, and | am t
play IN IT." He was strangely confident
for hitherto he had In frequent interviews
parts, expressed the keenest anxiety as t
his success. Now, all this was changed
He had found his right place at last, aud 1
can not be doubted that he knew from th,
first moment OF his study of the role tina
in Baron Chevrial he would achieve tn
first great, artistic success Of his career.
On the eventful first night his earlier
scenes we're received with critical GOODNESS
hut after the great supper scene, as the
amazed surprise of the audience gave place
to unbridled enthusiasm that burst for b
such an ovation awaited him as even thi
theater OF successes had, probably, neve
before witnessed.
At the end OF his frat season on tn
American stage Richard Mansfield founi
himself star, needing only q repertoire u
have swept the country with wave O.
Mr.. Field, Of the Boston Museum, se
cured him for star engagement In tn
spring at his popular house, and there hi
"Prince Karl" part entirely out Of tn
line Of any previous achievement, agail
evidenced the apparently unlimited versa
t lity and inexhaustive creative powe
which Mr.. Mansfield possesses. II was q
this time that Mr.. Palmer closed contrac
with a well known minstrel company T.
take the Madison Square Theater for tn
summer season. Less than q week befor
this engagement was to open difiicult
arose, and the minstrel manager refused T.
carry out his contract. In this diemm
Mr.. Mansfield was offered the house, &C
cepted it, and came ON with the Bosto
Museum Company at three days notice t
produce "Prince Karl" 1t proved grea
go and crsmmed the theater for over
hundred nj hts. Throughout the countr
and again at the Madison Square this sum
mer this delightful impersonatlon still
proved an immense attraction, aud will 70
many season yet he demanded by tn
admirers OF the inimitable character pic
tal, Il a., n .Ll Lao IT, IL.